Henry divides 1.060 g by 1.0 mL to find the density of his water sample. How many significant figures should he include in the density value that he reports?
one
two
three
four

Question

anonymous · Answer

pretty sure its 3

jfraser · Answer

how many sigfigs does the LEAST PRECISE measurement contain?

anonymous · Answer

would it be 1? (the lest precise)

jfraser · Answer

how many sig figs does 1.060g have?

anonymous · Answer

3

anonymous · Answer

4

jfraser · Answer

nope. 4

jfraser · Answer

trailing zeros AFTER a decimal ARE significant

jfraser · Answer

how many sigfis does 1.0mL have?

anonymous · Answer

i belive 2

jfraser · Answer

correct, 1.0mL has 2 sigfigs

jfraser · Answer

so which measurement has the fewest sigfigs?

anonymous · Answer

the one with the least numbers?

jfraser · Answer

and which one is that?

anonymous · Answer

1.0ml?

jfraser · Answer

so if the "worst" measurement is the one with the fewest total sigfigs, then how many sigfigs is the final answer allowed to have?

anonymous · Answer

one!

jfraser · Answer

NO

anonymous · Answer

darn...which one would it be and why?

jfraser · Answer

it's not a question of which one is correct, it's a question of how many digits does the final answer get

jfraser · Answer

the "worst" measurement is the one with the fewest TOTAL sigfigs. That's the measurement of volume, which has 2 sigfigs. That means the final answer gets 2 sigfigs.

anonymous · Answer

gotcha... a little confused but i think i get it